Tote-box



A. H. LEVENE.

TOTE BOX.

APPLICAUON man sff'. 24, 19m.

1,336,972. Patented Apr- 13, 1920.

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r ATTORNEYS.

- 1| im i A. H. LEVENE.

TOTE BOX.

MPPUCAHON HLED SEN. 24. 19:9.

1,336,972, Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

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ATTORNEYS.

ALBERT H. LEVENE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

TOTE-BOX.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920i Application tiled September 24, 1919. Serial No.325,922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT H. LEvENE, a citizen of the United States,residin in the city and county of Philadelphia, tate of Pennsylvania,have invented a new and useful Tote-Box, of which the following is aspecification.

My present invention compreliends a novel construction of a tote boxwhich is constructed in such a manner that it may be readily stacked.

It further comprehends a novel construction of a tote box wherein thetop is open and unobstructed and a front delivery and replenishingopening is provided havin a novel construction and arrangement o a doorwhich when dropped to closed position will automatically lock and whenthe door is raised to its open position it can be moved into the box inorder that the replenishing and delivery opening is accessible to theoperator.

It further consists of a novel construction of a box of the characterspecified which is braced and reinforced in a novel manner.

Other novel features of construction and advantage will hereinafter moreclearly appear in the detaileddescription of my invention. y

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in theaccompanying drawings typical embodiments thereof w ic are at presentreferred by me, since said embodiments will be found in practice tolgive satisfactory and reliable results, although itis to be understoodthat the vario'us instrumentalities of which my invention consists canbe variously' arranged and organized and that my invention is notlimited to the precise arrangement and organization of theseinstrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Figure 1 represents, in side elevation, a plurality of tote boxes,embodying m invention. the boxes being shown stack one above the other.

Fig. 2 represents, in front elevation, a plurality of tote` boxes instacked relationship with each other, the doors of the different boxesbeing shown in different positions.

Fig. 3 represents a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

`the front wall or F Fig. 4 represents a section on line 4-4 of i 3.Fig. 5 represents a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

`i 6 represents, in front elevation, a

tote ox, em odying my invention, with the door removed.

Fig. 7 represents a section on line 7-7 of Fig. 8, of another embodimentof my invention, showing the manner in which it is carrled out inpractice when the tote box is made of wood instead of metal. F Figi 8represents a section on line 8-8 of gimilar numerals of referenceindicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings 1 designates a tote box embodying myinvention. The bottom 2 of the tote box is provided at its inner endwith upwardl extending flanges 3 secured to the rear wa l 4 in anydesired manner. The bottom 2 is also provided with a flange 5 secured tolate 6 which latter terminutes a desired istance above the bottom inorder to form a replenishing and filling y opening 7. The side walls orplates 8 are connected together in the usual manner and at their upperor free ends they are bent over to form reinforcing flanges 9. The rearplate 4 is also bent over to form the reinforcing flanges 10, see Fig.3. The side Aplates 8 at their forward ends are bent over to form theanges 11 which overlap the front .plate 6 and are secured thereto in anydesirei manner. The flan es 11 at their up'- per ends are laterally andinwardly deflected as at 12 to form a support and guide for the door 13.The` door 13 is pan-shaped and comprises a plate havin the outwardlyextending side langeslfi, t e top flange 15, the bottom flange 16. Theside iianges' 14 are provided with the longitudinally extending slots17, see more particularly Figs. 1, 3 and 5.

The sides 8 of the tote box have secured to them in any desired manner,for examplel b v welding or riveting, the arms 18. 1,9 designatosfastening devices such as, for example screws, wiich pass through theslots 17 and through t 1e tubular spacing members 20 and are in threadedengagement with the arms 18. The top of the tote box is open andunobstructed and at its forward end it is reinforced by means of areinforcing member 21 the ends of which are deflected downwardly, as at22, and secured in any desired manner to the sides of the tote box. Thisreinforcing member 21 preferably consists r of a flat metal bar.

The reinforcing member 21 also contributes to form a guide for the doorand the side flanges' 14 are accurately guided between the reinforcingmember 21 and the inwardly extending flanges 12 of the tote box, so thatwhen the door is moved inwardly it will be retained in the position seenin Fig. 5.

The bottom flan e 16 of the door is slotted or recessed, as in icated at23, in order to permit the hook 24 to pass through it, T his ook 24 ispivotally mounted at 25 on the door and is provided with a graspinghandle 26. The front plate 6 has secured to it near its uppei end agrasping handle 27 which is slotted as indicated at 28 in order that thehook 24 may pass. through such slot and interlock with a wall of it toretain the door 13 in its closed and locked condition. The graspinghandle cured to the front plate 6 and the rear plate 4 of the door hassecured to it a grasping handle 29 preferably of the same construc--tioii except that the slot 2S is omitted.

The door 13 Vwhen closed overlaps the front flanoes 11, as will beunderstood from Fig. 2. 'lhe bottoniv plate has secured to it in anydesired manneitlie angle 3() which forms runners andthe downwardlyextending flanges of these runners when the boxes are stacked overhangthe reinforcing flanges 9 at the side of the tote box so that the toteboxes are accurately alined when placed one above the other.

In theconstruction above described, the parts of the box are made ofmetal plates and in case it is desirable a wooden box or a box bf othermaterial may also be constructed in accordance with my invention, aswill be understood by reference to Figs. 7 and 8, in which 31 designatesa tote box having the saine formation as already described and consistsof a rectangular shaped box having an open top and having a front wallterminating a desired distance above the box to form a replensliing anddelivery opening 32, while at its sides at thel front end, it extendsupwardly and terminates at 33, in order to form a guider for the door34. A reinforcing bar 35 is secured to the sides across the top andpreferably consists of a flat bar or board or a metal bar havingdownwardly extending flanges 36 secured to the sides of the tote box andserving as a reinforcement, as a guide for the doors 34 when movedinwardly and also limitin the movement of such doors. The sides o thedoor 34 have secured to them yin any desired 27 consistsof an anglesemanner the U-shaped plate 3T having the longitudinally extending slot38 through which pass fastening devices 39 which also' pass throughtubular spacing members 40 and are fixed to the plates 41 secured to orforming a ypart of the sides of the tote box.

The locking device 42 employed is constructed and operated in a similarmanner to the locking device 24 and its adjuncts and this interlockswith the Urasping handle 43, constructed and arranged with respect tothe box in the same manner as the grasping handle 2T.

It will now be apparent to those skilled in this art 4that the tote boxcan be placed in shelving in the usual manner or can be stacked oneabove the other without the necessity of employing any shelving. Thenthe boxes are stacked or, in fact, at any other time. the materialstored in the boxes can be removed b f unlocking the front door 13,raising it an moving it into the tote box, so that. the replenishing anddelivery opening 7 is free and unobstructed. lVhen the door is closed,the hook 24 is weighted so that it will automatically fall into lockingposition due to gravity and its own wei ht,

it being seen that one face of the hoo is beveled in order that suchaction will take place.

It will also be seen that when the tote box is full and carried aroundthe articles will not be spilled from it through the replenishing anddelivery opening 7 and the material can b'e readily removed through theopen and' unobstructed top.

The reinforcing bar or member serves to limit the inward movement of thedoor and the handle will prevent the door being moved into the 1tote boxtoo fai' as will also the length of the slot 1T.

It will be apparent to those' skilled in the art that in accordance withmy present invention, l have devised anovel construction of tote boxwherein the top is open and unobstructed and a portion of the front faceis removed to form a front delivery opening when the boxes are stacked.

The boxes are reinforced by means of reinforcing members extendingacross the box at the front and connected with the sides so thnt the.boxes will have sufficient rigidity to enable them to be stacked oneYabove the otlier.

It is within the sco e of my invention to employ tote boxes of t Y isconstruction either with or without doors since if the boxes wereassembled in a rack or shelving the articles stored therein can beremoved through the front delivery opening..

It will lnow be a parent that I have devised a new and use ulconstruction of a tote box which embodies the features of advantageenumerated as desirable in the statei ment of the invention and theabove descripand an open and unobstructed top, stacking means operativelconnected with said box, one of said en having aout-away portion to forma front replenishing and delivery opening when the box is stacked, theremaining fixed portion of such end preventin articles fallin out of the`box when 1t is being carrie around, and a reinforcing member at theupper front end of said box and connected to its sides.

2. A tote box having sides, a bottom, ends, and an open and unobstructedtop, stacking means operatively connected with said box, one of saidends having a cut-away portion to form a front replenishing and deliveryopening when the box isstacked, the remaining fixed portion of such end`preventing articles falling out of the box when it 1s being carriedaround, a reinforcing member at the upper front end of 'said box andconnected to its sides, and a door removabl carried by said box andcontrolling sai opening.

3. A tote box having a bottom, sides, ends, and an open and unobstructedtop and having one of its ends cut away to form an opening provided withvertically directed side flanges extending laterally to partially coversaid opening to assist 1n preventin material stored in the box beingdischarged through said opening, and stacking means operativelyconnected with said box.

4. A tote box havin a bottom, sides, ends, and an open andg unobstructedtop and having the front end cut away a desired distance from 'thebottom to form a front delivery opening, and verticall directed side[langes on opposite sides o said opening and partially ,covering it,stacking means operatively nconnected with 'saidbox, and a door carriedby said box and having its inward movement limited by said flanges.

5. A tote box having an open and unobstructed top and plrovided with areinforcing member at t e upper front edge of the box, and with a frontreplenishing and delivery opening below said reinforcing member, thefront Wall of said box forming laterally extending side fianges which attheir upper ends are inwardly deflected,

stacking means operatively connected with said box, a door pivotallycarried at the upper end of said box, and guided by said member and theinwardly deiected portion of said front wall when such door is openedand moved into the box, and a locking device for said door.

6. A tote box having a bottom, sides, a rear wall and a front wall, thefront wall being cut away to-form a replenishing and delivery opening,and a fixed front portion, a door having longitudinally extending slotsat its sides, fastening devices extending throu rh said slots andoperatively connecte with the sides of said box, said box having meansto uide said door when the latter is open an moved into it, stackingmeans operatively connected with said box, and a locking membercarriedby said door.

7. A tote box having an open and unobstructed top, a front replenishingand delivery opening, and a front wall, a grasping handle secured tosaid wall in proximity to said opening, stacking means operativelyconnected with said box, a door controllin said opening, and a lockingdevice carrie by said door and adapted to be interlocked with saidgrasping handle.

8. A tote box having an open and unobstructed top, a front replenishingand delivery opening, and a laterally extending door guide at the upperend of said opening, a door for said opening adapted to be moved intosaid box, a lock for said door to automatically lock it when the door ismoved to closed position, and stacking means operatively connected withsaid box.

9. A tote box having a front opening and having its sides deflected toform front flanges which at their upper ends are laterally defiected, areinforcing member extending across the top of the box and contributingwith said deflected portions to form door guides, `a door movablycarried by saidbox to close said front opening and-,w

to move into said box between said guides when opened, and stackingmeans operatively connected with said box.

10. A tote box having a front opening and having its sides deflected toform front flanges which at their upper ends are laterall deflected, areinforcing member extending aeross the top of the box and contributingwith said defiected portions to form door guides, a door movably carriedby said box to close said front opening and to more into said boxbetween-said guides whenY opened, a locking device to lock said doorwhen in closed position, and stacking means operatively connected withsaid box.

11. A stacking tote box having its sides, bottom and one end constructedof sheet metal and having its top open and unobstructed, the other endforming a replenishing and delivery opening, stacking means operativelyconnected withl said box, and

iio

n reinforcing member at the upper front end of said box and connected tothe sides to give theboX suicient rigidity for stacking purposes.

12. A stacking tote box having its sides, bottom and one end constructedof sheet metal and having its top open and unobstructed, the other endforming a replenishing and delivery opening, stacking means 10operatively connected with said box, and

a door movably carried by said box and covering said opening and guidedby Suid member when moved into said box to un- .cover said replenishingund delivery opening.

ALBERT H. LEVENE.

Witnesses:

H. S. FAIRBANKS, C. D. MCVAY.

